Charlie Fenton’s Reviews > Cor Rotto: A novel of Catherine Carey > Status Update

"If your mother was here, right now, and we asked her if she would do it all over again. If she knew that the outcome was her death, would she still have aspired to be the king's wife? I know her answer would be yes, because seeing you on the throne would have been worth it. The fact that you now rule England has made every sacrifice worth her blood."

'I looked back in sadness and wondered where the Princess Mary I had known had gone. She had been replaced with a ruthless queen I didn't quite recognise. Mary had not always been this way. Though she often carried a dour face and judgement upon every one, before my half-sister ascended the throne she had treated every soul she met with kindness.'

'The coronation would take place in two weeks. I had not considered attending, but this royal invitation required me to go. I also realised that, although Mary never knew and certainly would never recognise that I was her half-sister by blood, it was my duty to support her. I cared not what her religion was or even if England did rejoin the Catholic church. I only cared that my husband was spared punishment'

'It was a shame that for all the women King Henry had taken in marriage after Anne's death, not a single one of them has taught Elizabeth to avoid the plots and intrigues at Court. I feared this was just the beginning. Edward was still young and he had no heirs to follow should something happen to him. As long as Elizabeth was in line for the throne, she would always be a magnet for men and their ambition.'

'I had served three of his wives, danced at his masques, walked through his gardens and in all that time, we had barely exchanged words. Why did I grieve so? After a while, I realised it was because when I saw the king I knew that I belonged. He looked like my father. We had the same nose and squinty eyes. My golden red locks matched his. I had none of the Boleyn traits and I looked nothing like the Careys.'

'The new queen, Katheryn Parr, was everything Katherine Howard was not. Gracious and humble, she welcomed me into her household: while Katherine Howard would pay no great attention to religious matters, this new queen was well-versed. Her ladies were expected to read the Bible along with their sewing and cards. The king's daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, had been restored to the succession'

"I have become the queen's liaison with Culpeper. At first it was just once, when the king took ill. The Queen panicked and thought he might die. She said she needed someone to protect her if that should happen so she asked me to call Culpeper to her rooms so that she could seek his assistance. I thought I was helping her. She looked so frightened. But then, once the king had healed, the visits continued"

'With that terrible revelation, my heart broke for Jane and I was filled with rage for the king. Not only did he execute my beloved aunt and uncle, but he caused the death of George's unborn heir. Jane was just as much a victim as Anne and George. All she had was taken from her and, in addition, she had earned a vile, undeserved reputation. I suddenly wanted to be anywhere but here in this treacherous court.'

"I realised I was with child, but instead of casting me off like I expected, he became more protective. I think he was hoping I would have a boy. When you were born a girl, it was easy for him to believe that you were William's child. I believed it too, because it made me feel less shameful." She paused for a moment to brush a tear from her eye. "But as you grew, you began to look more and more like the king."